Archive for the ‘California Mountains’ Category

Traveling on interstate 5 in northern California, a large snow capped mountain appears to the east. This is Mount Shasta. The mountain is really 4 mountains in one. Mount Shasta is a strato volcano and is 14,179 feet in elevation. the mountain is part of the cascade range and last erupted in 1786. Mount Shasta is covered in snow and ice and has 7 named glaciers on it.

The mountain was formed about 593,000 years ago in a large eruption. About 300,000 years ago the north face collapsed. Mount Shasta erupts about once every 600 years.

People have lived around the mountain for about 5000 years. The Indians consider the mountain to be sacred. They believe the mountain is inhabited by Chief Skell. Eight different tribes live around the mountain

People have been climbing the mountain since the 1840’s. The climbing season is from April until October. Many people have climbed the mountain including John Muir and John Wesley Powell.

The closest towns are Shasta City, Dunsmuir, and Weed. Mount Shasta was declared a national landmark in 1976.

Mount Shasta lake is to the west. The lake contains 4.5 million acre feet of water behind a 602 ft dam that is 883 feet thick. The lake has 365 miles of shoreline and was built to even out river flow. The area receives about 60 inches of rain a year. Tunnels or galleries let you walk along the base of the dam. These tunnels are used to inspect the dam for leaks.

History

The dam was built from 1938 until 1945. 4700 men worked on the dam. The superintendent was Frank Crowe who also built the Hoover Dam. The pacific railroad was relocated several times during construction of the dam. during construction of the main spillway, one of the temporary railroad tunnels was used as a spillway channel to divert the Sacramento river.

Penstocks deliver water to turbine generators. 18 valves in the spillway of the dam control the level of the lake. The dams 5 generators produce 676 megawatts of electricity. The generators are being improved to produce 710 megawatts. The voltage is increased to 230,000 volts before being sent through transmission lines.

There is plenty of things to do on the lake. There is camping, water skiing, and hiking to name a few.

Interstate5 bridge over Lake Shasta

Shasta Lake

Mount Shasta

Shasta Dam

Shasta Dam Spillway

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I hope everyone enjoyed this week’s story. Before you go please be sure and check out our list of products on the right under our blogroll. Just click on any of the links that interest you and you will travel to that products website. Everyone have a safe and productive week and we will see you next week with a new adventure.